...to serve in your ministry with you?
In my Bible reading today, I read the book of Philemon. As you know, Paul wrote this letter to his friend, Philemon, on behalf of a mutual friend, Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave who belonged to Philemon who had run away and had probably stolen from him as well.
vs. 11 - "who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me."
vs. 18 - "But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account."
He apparently fled to Rome in hopes of losing himself in the crowd. He obviously committed another crime in Rome which merited him being thrown in prison. While in prison, the Apostle Paul won Onesimus to Christ.
vs. 10 - "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains"
The now saved Onesimus had become such a great blessing to Paul that Paul would have gladly kept him there to serve with him in the ministry.
vs. 13 - "whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel."
We have a jail ministry here at the church. I wonder how many men and/or women who are saved and discipled in jail are ever given the chance to serve in a ministry. I asked myself the question, "Would I hire a saved ex-convict to serve with me in my ministry?" Of course, I began to reason why it wouldn't work, but then I realized that, just as Onesimus was "unprofitable" at one point in his life, and is now very "profitable," (vs. 11) so I was once "unprofitable" (Rom. 3:12) but now have been "accepted in the beloved" (Eph. 1:6).
In my Bible reading today, I read the book of Philemon. As you know, Paul wrote this letter to his friend, Philemon, on behalf of a mutual friend, Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave who belonged to Philemon who had run away and had probably stolen from him as well.
vs. 11 - "who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me."
vs. 18 - "But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account."
He apparently fled to Rome in hopes of losing himself in the crowd. He obviously committed another crime in Rome which merited him being thrown in prison. While in prison, the Apostle Paul won Onesimus to Christ.
vs. 10 - "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains"
The now saved Onesimus had become such a great blessing to Paul that Paul would have gladly kept him there to serve with him in the ministry.
vs. 13 - "whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel."
We have a jail ministry here at the church. I wonder how many men and/or women who are saved and discipled in jail are ever given the chance to serve in a ministry. I asked myself the question, "Would I hire a saved ex-convict to serve with me in my ministry?" Of course, I began to reason why it wouldn't work, but then I realized that, just as Onesimus was "unprofitable" at one point in his life, and is now very "profitable," (vs. 11) so I was once "unprofitable" (Rom. 3:12) but now have been "accepted in the beloved" (Eph. 1:6).
